Text, photos and video by VINCENT GO
VARIOUS groups from different sectors vowed to continue staging rallies in the coming weeks, following the nationwide protest they held on March 15, World Consumer’s Rights Day, to demand action from government on the continuing oil price increases.
They also demanded wage increases, the repeal of the oil deregulation law, and the scrapping of the 12 percent value added tax (VAT) levied on oil.
As early as 7 a.m. on that day, hundreds of protesters began arriving in front of the National Housing Authority along Elliptical Road in Quezon City. At Around 9:30 a.m., they began what they called a protest caravan towards the offices of the big oil companies in Makati.
Similar actions were held in different parts of Metro Manila throughout the day up to 7 p.m.
“Workers have not received a significant wage increase for more than nine years under the previous administration and more than one year under the present one. The real value of workers’ wages is being further eroded by this years’ oil price hikes,” said Elmer “Bong” Labog, KMU chairperson.
GABRIELA secretary general Lana Linaban lashed out at the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for saying that food prices in wet markets were not affected by the weekly surges in fuel prices.
“Contrary to DTI’s statement, vegetable traders said that they are forced to increase prices for their produce as increases in fuel prices affect the transport of goods from the farms in Benguet to the markets in Metro Manila.” Linaban said.
After reportedly being threatened with dispersal and the arrest of so-called “plankers” among the protesters, Anakbayan national chairman Vencer Crisostomo introduced what he called “Noynoying” during the protest at Quezon City. Crisostomo defined the term as any effortless pose showing one doing nothing, which is what he said Aquino is known for.
“Despite the situation on the increases on prices of oil and basic commodities he has not lifted a finger when he should be doing something. That is Noynoying, when you do nothing when in fact you have so much to do,” Crisostomo said.
Even government employees around the Elliptical Road joined the protest, despite warnings issued by Malacanang.
“With an average pay of less than Php 8,000.00 a month sans mandatory deductions, an ordinary employee could no longer cope with the staggering costs of living,” said Ferdinand Gaite, national chairman of the government employees’ group COURAGE.
Manny Baclagon, an employee and union leader from the Department of Social Welfare and Development, condemned the DWSD’s project Conditional Cash Transfer, saying that it would be of no good to Filipinos. “Since it is a loan from the World Bank, the people, through our taxes, will still pay for it. On top of this, the government is allowing oil cartels to rake in super profits.”
